Saturday, April 2, 2011

Members of the Coastal Resiliency Coalition (CRC) and tourism leaders from the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area have partnered to mark the Gulf Coast's progress one year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion with a 500-person seated dinner directly on the white sand beaches.

Guy Fieri is lending his support to this project as the celebrity host chef: "It's an honor to come down to Alabama's Gulf Coast and participate in an event that celebrates this community. Shooting Diners, Drive-ins & Dives over the years, I've spent time with the people and sampled the area's food, and that is one spot-on combination."

Panini Pete, known to fans of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives for his Fairhope, AL sandwich shop and bakery, wrote to us, "It's a really positive event about the community coming together. Were not done with this oil spill and its effects, but were all working hard to repair the damages to the Gulf and it's beaches as well as the Seafood and toursim industry down here."

A family-style Seafood Feast is planned right on the sand. Not a glitz and glamor gig but a meal with a message. "Sustainability and resilience," Pete wrote. "We will be hosting alot of Politicians, industry leaders that can help with the seafood industry, meadia and sports celebrities as well as some Food Network personalities, and many local heroes who helped with everything from clean-up to moving turtle nests!

"Guy agreed to come down and host the event to help bring attention to our situation. He's filming in Jersey Saturday Night and again Monday morning in VA. So for him to squeeze this in AT NO CHARGE I might add!!! Is fantastic! He helps a lot of great causes when he can, and he sure helps out his friends too!"

The dinner, a by-invitation only event, will be held at the Gulf State Park beachside pavilion. Click here for the full article.

Panini Pete will be assisting on Guy Fieri's Food Tour, as he did in 2009. Pete, our hats off to you and your great work!